Volunteer Crisis Line Counselor| No Experience Required - Learn Life-Saving Skills

Your Compassion can be Someone's Lifeline.

Please apply at : https://caringcontact.org/how-to-help/

No prior crisis counseling experience is required. We provide comprehensive training to prepare you for this rewarding role. A training fee applies and helps offset the cost of materials - financial assistance may be available.

Located in Westfield, NJ, Caring Contact, an award-winning volunteer-powered crisis hotline and listening community answered over 25,000 calls last year from individuals experiencing a crisis, suicidal thoughts or simply needing someone to talk to.

We are recruiting for our 108th Volunteer Crisis Counselor (Listener) Training beginning September 15th, 2026. The training program runs one evening per week for 11 weeks, plus one full weekend. All sessions are required.

The training will be delivered in a hybrid format, with in-person classes held near Westfield, New Jersey. For the full training schedule and to apply, please visit Caring Contact's website at: www.caringcontact.org.

Participants receive 46 hours of comprehensive training by nationally certified instructors in active listening and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). Volunteers develop the ability to listen actively, assess the needs of someone in crisis and provide empathy and support. There is a fee for the class.

Following the training, new volunteer crisis counselors will be supported by seasoned Listeners during an internship period before they take calls on their own. Caring Contact provides ongoing support and training opportunities to allow volunteers to hone their skills. This volunteer opportunity can be performed remotely after training period and proficiency is attained.

To learn more, visit www.caringcontact.org or call our office at 908-301-1899.

An interview, criminal background and reference checks are required. The minimum age to volunteer is 21.

If you need someone to listen, call us at 908-232-2880.

If you, or someone you know are in Crisis, call 988 (the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)

You are Not Alone. One Call. One Connection. One Life Changed.